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2025 Grant Express

Montgomery ISD Education Foundation Commits $100K for District's Centennial Year
Posted on 01/10/2025
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Montgomery ISD Education Foundation Commits $100K for District’s Centennial Year

“Grant Express” makes a stop at every MISD Campus

To kick off a year-long celebration of Montgomery ISD’s centennial year in 2025, the MISD Education Foundation committed to awarding $100,000 to the school district via educator grants and other initiatives. On Friday, January 10, the “Grant Express” school bus, filled with members of the Montgomery ISD Education Foundation, district leaders, and community partners stopped at each of MISD’s eleven campuses to award 32 educator grants. These grants are in addition to six previously awarded district-wide grants and seven Foundation Fellowships, a new initiative that supports MISD employees in their pursuit of higher education in the teaching profession.  

“We are so proud to pilot the Foundation Fellowship program for district employees,” Montgomery ISD Education Foundation Executive Director Tiffany Ortiz said.  “The program is designed to encourage, promote, and foster a desire for continued education. We strongly believe that our student’s premier education comes from our premier teachers and are especially excited to unveil the program in the district’s centennial year.”

Each fall, the Montgomery ISD Education Foundation hosts a competitive grant application process. Grants are awarded based on creative and innovative ideas that district staff can implement in the classroom to positively impact student learning.

Grant applications are evaluated based on whether the proposed program represents an inventive approach to improve and enrich learning and includes sound evaluation procedures tied to student performance.

Some of the items that will be purchased with 2025 grant funds include:

  • Power tools to enhance the hands-on learning experience for students enrolled in our Career and Technical Education programs, specifically in the fields of construction, automotive technology, agricultural mechanics, and welding.
  • Drone technology to provide secondary students with the skills and knowledge to operate drones for professional-quality video production, preparing them for careers in media, film, and digital content creation.
  • LEGO Spike Robotic Kits focus on combining LEGO building elements, programmable hardware, and a user-friendly coding platform to teach STEM concepts.
  • Augmented Reality Sandbox to encourage students to leverage technology to make history and science classes more interactive, engaging, and impactful. The AR sandbox not only deepens understanding but also inspires a love of learning, ensuring students are active participants in their education rather than passive observers.

Other grants will fund experiences for students, including:

  • Texas Wildlife on Wheels introduces the diversity of local wildlife to students, and a deeper understanding of the flora and fauna in their own backyard.
  • Books Alive Theater Company provides elementary students with a musical performance of the book Three Nasty Gnarlies by Keith Graves, along with copies of the book provided for each classroom teacher.
  • The MISD College Experience Grant will fund college campus visits for MISD students and provide college application assistance.
  • Mobile Ed Production STEAM Museum visit allows students to participate in hands-on activities to learn about energy, technology, manufacturing methods and techniques, simple machines, gear ratios, 3D printing, robotics, geometry, structures, friction, gravity, and much more.

“The MISD Education Foundation is thrilled to commemorate MISD’s 100th year, by committing $100,000 to enhance student learning,” Ortiz said. “Grant Express Day is the culmination of our fundraising efforts and one of the best days in Montgomery ISD. We always look forward to surprising our educators and providing them with the tools and experiences they know will make a big difference in their classrooms and on their campuses.  We could not do this without the incredible support of our community partners and are delighted that so many of them were able to ride along with us today to be part of the celebration.”

“There is nothing better than seeing the excitement on the faces of our teachers and staff as they were presented with funding for innovative programs and initiatives for their students.” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “The 45 grants awarded represent the MISD Education Foundation’s commitment to MISD, deep investment in our kids and staff, and an amazing way to celebrate the district’s centennial year in 2025.”

Funds for the Montgomery ISD Education Foundation come from fundraising events including a golf tournament held in the fall, and the Roaring 20s Spring Soiree, scheduled for March 22, 2025 at Margaritaville on Lake Conroe.  

MONTGOMERY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or disability in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, educational programs, employment of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

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